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| W Norfolk HCD says trade struggling because of 'unfair' Uber http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42626 |
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| Author: | StuartW [ Fri Jun 12, 2026 6:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | W Norfolk HCD says trade struggling because of 'unfair' Uber |
Quite a lot in here, and it's quite well explained, particularly the legal position as regards what the council is saying. Trouble is, it's the kind of stuff that's been heard a million times before. King’s Lynn taxi driver describes ‘struggle’ to get work amid rise in Uber vehicles in West Norfolk https://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/taxi-dr ... c-9469795/ A Lynn taxi driver has described a “struggle” to get work in recent months - and blames a rise in Ubers in the area as the root cause. The licensed Hackney carriage driver, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Lynn News he and many others cannot “compete fairly” with the operator and claims the international firm avoids paying the same fees as local businesses. However, there are no national regulations for taxi operators, vehicles and drivers, which has led West Norfolk Council - which sets local standards for borough-based firms - to call for a “consistent set of national standards”. The taxi driver, who has been in his role for four years, has called for the borough council to take action against Uber, but the authority has explained it cannot do so. In previous years, it was virtually impossible to book an Uber in West Norfolk, as it mainly operated in cities. However, when the Lynn News used the Uber app this week to see if any vehicles were in the area, five were available for a pick-up from the Tuesday Market Place - with a wait time of just nine minutes. The taxi driver has reported receiving fewer requests for pick-ups from Lynn’s train station, which is normally a busy spot. He believes more people in Lynn are now able to book Ubers, which he believes has caused a decline in customers over the past six months. “This is not a complaint about competition,” the driver said. “Local drivers are willing to compete fairly with any operator, including Uber. “Our concern is whether the existing system is fair, transparent, and properly protects the livelihoods of local licensed drivers who comply with all local regulations. "if I take a passenger to Ely, I cannot just start taking jobs there because I am not licensed there. But these drivers come here, stay here and take jobs. That is why it feels unfair. Local Hackney carriage and private hire drivers must comply with licensing requirements, pay fees, meet vehicle standards, and follow regulations set by the borough council. However, the taxi driver believes it is unfair that those working for Uber avoid paying the same fees and do not hold local operator’s licences. “Many local drivers feel that the current system allows out-of-area operators and drivers to take work from Lynn without being subject to the same local oversight,” he said. “We are really struggling to get jobs. We are paying for our licences and renewing everything. We spend a lot of money to stay in business, but our jobs are being taken by cars licensed by different councils." A borough council spokesperson acknowledged that “the way the system works” benefits national operators like Uber. “Taxis have to be able to take people across district boundaries – otherwise no taxi could take a passenger beyond the local area or bring them home to it from elsewhere,” the spokesperson said. “However, the way the system works does give an advantage to national operators who can be licensed in multiple places. “For example, if a passenger uses one of these operators to go from Wisbech to Lynn, and then another passenger makes a booking with that company from Lynn to go somewhere else, this bypasses the local operators who lose the opportunity to get that business. “To compound the problem, at the moment there is no national set of standards for taxi operators, vehicles and drivers. As a result, each local authority sets its own standards and enforcement thresholds, leading to differences between districts.” Meanwhile, the taxi driver said he has seen a decline in work - especially at events including Tulips for Tapping near Sandringham held at the end of April. "When the tulip garden opened, it lasted for four or five days. I only did two jobs in those five days,” the driver said. “Everybody was booking an Uber. Taxis came from different towns, took people to the tulips, stayed there all day and then picked up passengers again. They were taking passengers from our area while local drivers had very little work." A borough council spokesperson added: “In Lynn and West Norfolk, we set the bar high because we take the public’s safety very seriously. “However, because each local authority sets its own rules, required standards can differ considerably. “The effect of this is that operators can choose to be licensed where rules are not so strict, which is cheaper for them, while also offering their services elsewhere, made possible because the growth of internet apps has changed how people book taxis. “This has become recognised as an issue for local operators across the country. “What is needed now is a consistent set of national standards for vehicles, drivers and operators to address what has become an uneven and inconsistently-regulated system. “The Government is working on this and recently held a major consultation on transferring taxi and private hire vehicle licensing away from individual district councils and creating a smaller number of regional Local Transport Authorities in England. “It is also proposing to address a number of these issues in the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Bill, which was announced in the King’s Speech. “We have a great deal of sympathy with the issues raised, but there is nothing illegal about what is happening, so unfortunately, until these issues are addressed nationally, there is little we can do to help.” Uber has been approached for comment, but did not respond before our deadline. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Jun 12, 2026 7:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: W Norfolk HCD says trade struggling because of 'unfair' |
Quote: "if I take a passenger to Ely, I cannot just start taking jobs there because I am not licensed there. But these drivers come here, stay here and take jobs. That is why it feels unfair. Well you can, as long as the job is booked. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Fri Jun 12, 2026 7:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: W Norfolk HCD says trade struggling because of 'unfair' |
Quote: “We are really struggling to get jobs. We are paying for our licences and renewing everything. We spend a lot of money to stay in business, but our jobs are being taken by cars licensed by different councils." You can't help but sympathise, but sadly the cross-border disease affects many 10s of 1000s of drivers. |
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